Gavin Marks

Gavin P. Marks is a United States Air Force brigadier general who served as the Commandant of Cadets of the United States Air Force Academy from 2023 to 2026. He previously served as Director, Secretary, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group.

Early life Marks attended the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with the Class of 1996. In 2002, he obtained a Master of Science in organizational management from George Washington University. Later, in 2015 he received a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College. Afterwards, he moved to Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, to serve as an T-1A Instructor Pilot with the 32nd Flying Training Squadron. During that time, he attended Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and received Distinguished Graduate honors.

In June 2023, Marks became the 31st Commandant of Cadets of the United States Air Force Academy, succeeding Paul Moga. He has over 3,400 flying hours. His significant accomplishments as Commandant include culture and morale of cadets and instituting discipline. Some of his notable command decisions include taking away flight suits, restricting cadets to base, increasing the amount of military formations, and instituting mandatory social decorum dinners for cadets.

In May 2026, Marks will retire from the Air Force and will be succeeded by Colonel Brandon Tellez as Commandant of Cadets.

Awards and decorations

Effective dates of promotion

Assignments 1. July 1996–February 1997, Assistant Executive Officer / Special Projects Officer, 34th Training Wing, United States Air Force Academy, Colo. 2. February 1997–February 1998, Student, Specialized UPT, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. 3. February 1998–July 1998, Student, Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas 4. July 1998–May 2001, T-1A Instructor Pilot, Squadron Programmer, Check Pilot, 32nd Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla. 5. June 2001–June 2002, Air Force Intern, the Pentagon, Arlington Va. 6. July 2002–July 2004, Assistant Flight Commander, E-3 Aircraft Commander, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla. 7. July 2004–March 2005, Flight Commander, E-3 Instructor Pilot, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla. 8. March 2005–September 2006, Wing Executive Officer, E-3 Instructor Pilot, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla. 9. September 2006–November 2007, assistant director of Operations, E-3 Evaluator Pilot, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla. 10. November 2007–June 2010, Observer / Trainer, J7 Joint Warfighting Center, United States Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Va. 11. June 2010–May 2012, Director of Operations, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas 12. May 2012–May 2014, Commander, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas 13. May 2014–June 2015, Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C. 14. June 2015–June 2016, Executive Officer, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance, U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. 15. June 2016–July 2017, Operations Planner, Force Management Division, J-32 ISR / CCA, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington Va. 16. July 2017–June 2019, Vice Commander, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla. 17. June 2019–June 2021, Commander, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb. 18. June 2021–June 2022, Director, SECAF / CSAF Executive Action Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington Va. 19. June 2022–June 2023, Director, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington Va. 20. June 2023–May 2026, Commandant of Cadets, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.